ROME, Ga. - The Birmingham-Southern volleyball team continues their conference tournament run with a 3-1 win over Centre to move on to the championship match. Leah Nielsen had 10 block assists and Gigi Fields had 10 assists and 1 solo block. Nielsen also contributed 4 service aces for the Panthers. 

The first set started off with a 4-0 lead for the Colonels. The Panthers quickly came back to tie it up at 6-6 with a block from Gigi Fields and Kennedy Dickens, and kills from Leah Nielsen and Gigi Fields. The majority of the set was a lot of back and forth play between the two teams. At 17-15, Centre held the lead before Birmingham-Southern took the next three consecutive points with a kill from Leah Nielsen, block from Nielsen and Kylie Wilhelmi, and an ace from Alyssa Coats that made it 17-17. Falling behind again, the Panthers had to fight their way back into this set with five straight points that put them ahead 22-21. A service error from the Colonels and an ace from Abby Dunford ended the set for Birmingham-Southern, taking it 25-23.

Centre held the lead once again to start things off in set two. A big block from Leah Nielsen and Ainsley Schultz tied the set up at 5-5. The Panthers took their first lead of the set after a five point run that put them up 15-13. Kills from Kylie Wilhelmi and Alyssa Coats, as well as a block from Leah Nielsen and Ainsley Schultz put the Panthers at point 20. Back to back blocks for BSC and a kill from Kylie Wilhelmi pushed it to set point and Kennedy Dickens finished it off 25-22. 

The Panthers fell in set three, unable to take a lead during the set, but turned things around in set four. Leah Nielsen took the first point of set four with a kill and Emily Buhl added one that put the Panthers up 3-0. Birmingham-Southern once again took the lead  at 10-7, after a four point run with kills from Emily Buhl and Kennedy Dickens. Centre fought back to hold the Panthers to a one point lead at 11-10, but the Panthers were not done and took the next seven points to extend their lead 18-10. Gigi Fields and Leah Nielsen contributed three blocks to that run. Once again the Colonels were able to fight back and make it a close 20-18 and then 22-21. Birmingham-Southern was able to end the match in a big block by Kennedy Dickens and Gigi Fields to take it 25-23 and move on to the championship match. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 19-8 Overall, Centre 19-8 Overall
 
SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-22 Birmingham-Southern
SET THREE: 25-12 Centre
SET FOUR: 25-23 Birmingham-Southern

Up next
The Panthers will play in the championship match of the Southern Athletic Association Tournament on Sunday, November 6 at 12 p.m. against Berry.